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Rare indictment in West Bank
Israeli prosecutors charged settler Yinon Levi with reckless manslaughter over the death of Palestinian activist Owdeh Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank, in what Reuters described as the first indictment of its kind in more than seven years amid a rise in settler violence.
“Yinon Levi is charged with reckless manslaughter over the death of Owdeh Hathaleen”
The indictment filed by the State Attorney's office accuses Levi of reckless manslaughter in the death of prominent activist Owdeh Hathaleen and also charges armed trespassing and malicious property damage tied to a July 2025 incident in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair.
Reuters said the charges come after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks set off Israel's military assault in Gaza and led to a sharp rise in settler violence in the West Bank, where Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed at least 1,100 Palestinians, including at least 240 children, according to United Nations data.
The indictment also points to video evidence released by B'Tselem showing Levi draw a weapon and fire in Hathaleen's direction, with Hathaleen filmed during the confrontation.
NBC News reported the indictment was filed in a district court in southern Israel and that under Israeli law reckless manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.
B’Tselem calls it exception
B'Tselem framed the indictment as an outlier, saying, "The decision to indict Yinon Levi is the exception that proves the rule," while also arguing that impunity is "a central component of a policy designed to allow the violence to continue and escalate."
NBC News quoted Eitan Peleg, the lawyer for Hathaleen’s family, saying, "I hope that it will be a turning point for more severe enforcement of the law in the West Bank against Jewish terrorists," after prosecutors charged Levi.
Levi, reached through a letter shared with The Associated Press, wrote back to prosecutors saying he would fight for his innocence and accused prosecutors of providing "de facto support for terrorism."
Avichay Hajbi, Levi’s lawyer, told NBC News that the prosecution had made a "mistaken decision," and said the defense would respond to the accusations in court.
NBC News also reported that the indictment was filed in the city of Beersheba and that Levi was not currently under arrest, with a meeting to be scheduled in the coming weeks where prosecutors would read Levi the charges.
What the case signals
The indictment alleges that Levi fired in a reckless manner toward an area with people, including children, after a confrontation developed in Umm al-Khair when settlers operated a large excavator and residents gathered to stop the backhoe by throwing stones.
“"unreasonable" and "de facto support for terrorism."”
The New York Times reported that Levi said in his letter that the indictment was "unreasonable" and "de facto support for terrorism," while the family of Awdah Hathaleen said it was relieved to learn of the indictment but expressed frustration that prosecutors did not bring a more severe charge.
CNN reported that the indictment was filed at the Beersheba District Court and that the reckless manslaughter charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 12 years, with additional charges of armed trespassing and malicious property damage.
CNN also said B’Tselem reported that of the at least 1,100 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since October 2023, 37 were killed by Israeli settlers.
In the broader context of the war in Gaza, Reuters said the indictment marks the first since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks that set off Israel's military assault in Gaza and led to a sharp rise in settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
